Abstract: A screw press has a friction clutch for coupling the driving flywheel to the press spindle. The clutch is engaged by a hydraulic piston. To maintain a constant piston stroke as the friction clutch wears, a metering piston and cylinder are interposed between the clutch operating piston and the pressure fluid supply to trap pressure fluid in the clutch operating cylinder and to top it up as required, so that the operating piston stroke corresponds essentially to the fixed stroke of the metering piston. Fluid flow to the operating cylinder bypassing the metering piston is controlled by a normally closed valve arranged to be opened positively in dependence on the position of the metering piston, as the metering piston approaches the end of its stroke in the direction for pressurizing the clutch operating piston to engage the clutch. This arrangement ensures that the clutch cannot be inadvertently locked in an engaged condition.

Abstract: A forging manipulator has a billet gripper carrier rotatable about its longitudinal axis in bearings, which in turn are displaceable transversally along cross arms on a carriage. To reduce height and to reduce bending moments, the cross arms are above the bearings and above the gripper carrier, which are suspended from the cross arms. The cross arms are raised and lowered, by telescopic piston and cylinder units which support the cross arms on the upper ends of the cylinders, the piston rods being suspended on the carriage.

Abstract: A forging machine having rams arranged in the form of a cross carry respective tools adjustable transversely to the ram axes and partly overlapping one another, so that a closed pass can be formed for any size of the forging pass. To adjust the tools transversely, each tool is carried on a respective crosspiece which can be clamped against the ram end or can be released and moved transversely on the ram. The clamping and releasing and the adjustment movement are all effected by a rotary tie rod extending through the crosspiece and through the ram, having one end coupled to the crosspiece for clamping it and moving it transversely to the ram, and the other end coupled to a clamping mechanism and to a rotary adjustment drive.

Abstract: A forging manipulator for a forging machine is moved longitudinally by a rack and pinion mechanism comprising a pair of longitudinal guide rails on opposite sides of the manipulator, and respective toothed racks associated with these guide rails, the toothed racks being inclined inwards (in cross section), and the manipulator carriage being provided with a respective travel drive for meshing with each rack, the travel drives similarly having their axes inclined to the horizontal.

Abstract: In a forging machine which has four radial rams with respective tools together forming a closed bite, each tool overlaps one adjacent tool and is overlapped by the other adjacent tool, and can be adjusted laterally relative to the radial ram axis, in the operating plane of the rams and tools, for setting the bite size.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for open-die forging of workpieces in forging presses at high forging temperatures, more particularly steel billets or ferrous alloy billets between about 800 and 1250 degrees Celsius. In conventional open-die forging it is often not possible to complete the forging process in a single heat, and the workpiece must therefore be reheated. Also, with direct contact between workpiece and tool, cracks occur, particularly in the vicinity of bulges, the prevention or straightening of which requires repeated transverse hammer- or pressure-forging, so lengthening the cooling time. The total energy consumption for deformation and heating of the workpieces is therefore relatively high.

Abstract: A forging manipulator has two pairs of workpiece gripping arms which operate in respective mutually perpendicular planes. Each pair of arms is operable by a respective independent actuating mechanism, so that the respective pairs of arms can accommodate workpiece dimensions. The two actuating mechanisms comprise:a common bore in the gripper carrier of the manipulator, defining two co-axial fluid pressure cylinder disposed end to end,a respective annular piston in each of these cylinders,a respective hollow piston rod extending from each piston towards the gripper arms, one of these piston rods extending within the other piston rod, anda respective wedge at the forward end of each piston rod, for operating the corresponding pair of gripper arms on movement of the piston rod. The wedges slope in opposite directions, and the pistons move simultaneously in opposite directions.

Abstract: For recycling the dies and pressure plates, in an extrusion press designed to perform both direct and indirect extrusion, a common conveyor extends beside the press between a device for stripping extrusion residue from the dies, and a device for separating extrusion residue from pressure plates. A first transfer arm is provided to transfer a pressure plate and direct extrusion residue from the press axis to the conveying means for conveyance to the pressure plate-separating device. The same transfer arm serves to transfer stripped dies from the conveying means to the press axis. A second transfer arm removes the die, pressure plate and extrusion residue after indirect extrusion, to the conveying means, which conveys the die to the die stripper, and the pressure plate and extrusion residue to the device for separating the extrusion residue from the pressure plate. Separated pressure plates are recycled to a magazine and then to the press axis for re-use.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating pressure plates from extrusion residues formed when metal is extruded so as to leave a thin shell of metal residue surrounding a pressure plate used to force the metal through the extrusion die comprises a device for pushing the pressure plate between a pair of stripping cutters which are urged resiliently against the shell on opposite sides of the path of movement of the pressure plate between the cutters, to that each stripping cutter removes a respective area of the shell from the pressure plate. For complete removal of the shell, the pressure plate may be retracted from between the cutters, turned to present a fresh portion of shell to the cutters, and then again fed between the cutters. A device may also be provided for shearing off extrusion residues at one or both ends of the pressure plate.

Abstract: In a tube-upsetting press, of the kind having a vertically split die with vertically spaced shaping faces for successive setting operations, metal tubes to be upset are handled by sets of grippers which move cyclically along a closed path perpendicular to the axes of the tubes and the die and respective grippers move cyclically towards and away from the die, these movements being so synchronized that successive tubes are gripped, moved into line with one shaping face of the die and advanced thereinto by a first gripper of the set, shifted to the next shaping face by another gripper of the set, and withdrawn from the die by a further gripper of the set after upsetting. Fixed retaining grippers hold the tubes during upsetting, and oscillating transfer grippers move the tubes laterally from a supply table into alignment with the first die-feeding grippers of the set. The drive train for the several sets of grippers is described.

Abstract: In a forging press of underfloor construction, the vertically travelling frame has a lower crosshead which fits around and is guided on a hollow guide shaft which projects downwards from the table crosshead or platten of the press. The hollow guide shaft serves also as the working cylinder of the press. A working plunger piston which is slidable in the cylinder is coupled to the lower travelling crosshead of the press frame through spherical jointing to eliminate transverse forces on the piston.

Abstract: A screw press has a flywheel rotationally connected to the press spindle by way of a friction coupling. The spindle is displaced axially in a nut mounted in the upper cross member of the press frame, and the flywheel has external toothing with a width corresponding to the maximum pressing stroke plus the width of the driving pinions. A plurality of pinions engaging in the said toothed rim are each driven by an oil-hydraulic axial piston motor or by a pair of oil-hydraulic axial piston motors and the axial piston motors together with the pinions are disposed on a platform surrounding the upper cross member of the press frame. In order to reduce the structural expenditure and to increase the operational reliability, each axial piston motor or pair of axial piston motors associated with a pinion has associated with it on the platform a controllable pump which is driven by a respective electric motor and is reversible with respect to the flow direction.